Cotton-chopper



(No Model.) 2Sheets-Shetv2. a

W. BUSCH.

` Cotton-Chopper.

No. 227,879. Patented May 25, |8840.-

N-P-TERS, PHOTLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. 0. C.

h clear, and exact description of the invention,

upon a driving-wheel, B, at each end. This `PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BUSCH, OF SGHULENBURG, TEXAS.

coTToN-CHoPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,879, dated May 25, 1880.

Application filed March 6, 1880. (N o model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM BUSCH, of Schulenburg, in the county of Fayette and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Choppers; ,and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to 'make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in cotton choppers and cultivators; and it consists, first, in having one or more sets of knives or cutters, which revolve at the same time in opposite directions, and which can be thrown out of gear at the will of the driver, so as not to revolve when the machine is moving forward.

It further consists in the arrangement and combination of parts, which will be more fully described hereinafter, whereby the cotton can be cultivated and chopped at the same time.

Figure 1 is aside elevation of my invention with the near driving-wheel removed. Fig. 2 is an inverted view of the same. Figs. 3, 4, 5 are detail views of the same.

A represents the axle, which is supported axle is bent upward at its center and forms the central support for the tongue C, just below the drivers seat D. This seat is made lon gitudinally adjustable upon the tongue for the purpose of shifting the drivers weight back and forth. Secured to this axle at each end, a suitable distance inside of the driving-wheel, is the frame E, which is rigidly secured together at each end by means of a bent brace orsupport, F, the upper portions of which braces are Vsecured to the under side of the tongue. This tongue,bein g rigidly secured upon the top of the axle and these two braces, forms, as it were, a part of the frame itself. Upon the top of the tongue is pivoted the doubletree G, which is provided with the perforated draft-bars H, which bars have their lower ends fastened to the front ends of the frame.

Fastened upon the horizontal parts of the front brace, F, are the cultivator-beams I, which may be provided with two standards each, and each standard has its shovel attached to it in such a manner that the shovel can be adjusted so as to throw the dirt either in or out. These cultivators can be raised from or lowered to the ground at the will of the driver by means of the cranked shaft J, which is provided with the operating-lever K. Each one of the beams is provided witha loop upon its top rear end, so that the driver can insert his feet into them, and thus control their movements.

The culti viator-beams extend back beyond where the two standards are attached. to them, and are provided with means for the attachment oi' either a scraper, a single plow, or any other implement that may be desired in cultivating the crop.

' Secured to the inner end of each hub is a spur-wheel, L, which meshes with another similar wheel, M, secured upon the end of the shaft N, which extends entirely across the frame, and which shaft has the large gear-wheel O placed loosely upon it near` its center. Both of the wheels upon the ends of this shaft are provided with spring-ratchets, so that the shaft will not be operated when the machine is backing. Upon one side of this large wheel O are formed teeth, into which the clutch P, feathered on the shaft, is made to catch for the purpose of causing the wheel to revolve with the shaft, and thus operate the choppers. This clutch isthrown in and out of gear by means of the bent lever Q, which is operated by the hand-lever R and shaft S, which shaft has a loop, T, projecting out from it for the purpose of catching hold of the bent lever and moving the clutch. This shaft S, to which the handlever R is attached, has a crank upon each end, and to these cranked ends are secured the connecting-rods U, which have their rear ends fastened to the rocking levers V, which levers are pivoted upon the side pieces of the frame. Fastened to these rocking levers V, above and below their centers, are the two connectingrods TW, which have their outer ends fastened to the clutch-bars X, which extend entirely across the frame and move back and forth thereon for the purpose of preventing the choppers from operating while the machine is moving to and from the field, and for the purpose of holding the cutters in a horizontal position across the frame and raised above the ground.

These clutch-bars X have holes through each end and pass over or have the rounded portions y of the frame passed th rough their ends, and these portions y form guides upon which the bars move.

Meshing with the large wheel O is a pinion, Y, on the front end of the shaft Z', which is journaled in the cross-bar A' and the front clutch-bar, and which extends back to the choppers and operates them. Upon this shaft is placed the collar B', which has teeth to engage with the clutch-bar, and the beveled gear C', to which the arm D' of the choppers is secured. These wheels G' are caused to revolve in opposite directions by the two pinions F', which are placed in the casing G'. These two pinions F' areI placed upon opposite ends of a short shaft, x, which is journaled in the casing G', which incloses thc two gear-wheels C', as shown in Fig. 3.

One of the sleeves O' is secured upon the revolving shaft, while the rear one is placed upon Aa support which extends out from the rear cross-bar of the frame. To each one of the sleeves is secured a spring, H', which has its outer end fastened to the arm of the chopper by means of a bolt, which passes through a slot in the arm. These springs serve to allow the knives to yield in case they strike any hard object, and thus prevent them from being broken.

The chopper-knives are bent at right angles, .as shown, and have their upper ends made perforated, are fitted in a recess made in the sides of the chopper-arms, and are secured to the chopper-arms by means of a suitable holding-bolt. These knives can be adjusted in and ont upon the arms, according to the depth to which they are desired to cut. As the two sets of knives revolve in opposite directions, the forward set are adjusted so as to extend enough beyond the rear set to allow the rear settorevolve freely inside of them. As these knives revolve in opposite directions, they meet just under the shaft, and, cutting from opposite drections, they clean away the grass, plants, and weeds more perfectly and effectually than can be done where the knives revolve in but a single direction.

Secured to the under side of the rear end of the tongue is a suitable shield or covering, I', which covers over the tops of the knives and prevents any accident tothe driver while the knives are in operation. Also, placed over the tops of the spur-wheels, which are secured to -the inner ends of the hubs and to the wheels on the ends of the shaft, is a shield to protect them from dirt. Over the top of the large wheel O is placed a similar shield or covering.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. In a cotton chopper and cultivator, the combination of two sets of knives, one of which revolves within the track of the other and in an opposite direction, the knives being geared to pass each other at the ground, so that they will chop at the same time. substantially as shown.

2. In a cotton chopper and cultivator, the combination ofv one or more sets of revolving knives and a mechanism for moving them in opposite directions with the clutch-bars X, for locking the knives in position above the ground, substantially as described.

3. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of the shaft Z', having the pinion Y upon its front end and a wheel, C', on its rear one, the clutch-bars X, clutches O', intermediate pinions, F', and cutters or knives which revolve in opposite directions, each set of knives being secured to a gear-wheel, C', substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the sleeves O', gearwheels G', springsH', and chopper-arms, the choppers being made to revolve in opposite directions, substantially as specied.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of February, 1880.

VILLIAM BUSCH.

Witnesses GHAs. A. KESSLER, NEILL L. MCKINNON. 

